Monday, November 19, 2007

I thought I'd share something that's close to my heart this morning, the FIGHT AGAINST Neuroblastoma. I've also posted this on Brent's site... so my apologies to those of you who are visiting me here that also visit us there. THANK YOU SO MUCH for checking in with me today.

Have a BLESSED day! =-)

Click cookie image above to order!!

The Band of Parents

(www.bandofparents.org), a non-profit foundation formed by parents of children suffering from a deadlychildhood cancer called Neuroblastoma, invites you to be a part of our holiday fundraiser and to give new hope to children fighting cancer.

This holiday, give freshly-baked cookies made using recipes from the recently published cookbook, Cookies, by acclaimed cookbook author Sally Sampson.

Our delicious handmade cookies will not only make the perfect holiday gift but nearly 100% of the proceeds will directly support children’s cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer. You will feel good knowing your generous gift was lovingly baked by hand using all natural ingredients, while your purchase helps to provide hope for children battling cancer. Cookies will be baked, packed with care, and promptly shipped to your entire gift list. A card explaining the significance of your generous gift will also be included.

Please share this unique opportunity to give with your friends, co-workers, and family. A gift that tastes as good as it feels to give…

Give all the kids fighting Neuroblastoma today, and those who will be so unfairly chosen to fight tomorrow, the hope all children deserve.

What would you do if you were told your child had a cancerfor which there was no known cure?

Most parents cannot imagine such unspeakable despair. But we have heard those words, and are trying desperately to save our children. We want a cure for every child who is battling Neuroblastoma, a lethal childhood cancer of the sympathetic nervous system that affects approximately 650 children in the U.S. every year. Only about 30f those diagnosed survive it.

HIGH RISK TREATMENT

As of 2007, our children's only chance of survival is to undergo one of the most intense cancer treatments. The standard treatment for Neuroblastoma offers no guarantees and virtually all children who do survive have significant side effects, including sterility, heart problems, learning defects, hearing loss, and the high risk of secondary cancers caused by the treatment itself. Most children will undergo numerous rounds of high dose chemotherapy, complicated surgeries, intense radiation therapy, endless x-rays, and scans that expose them to levels known to be dangerous. Children will also be subjected to numerous drugs and medicines often not developed or even proven safe for children. The treatments are torture for children to undergo and emotionally devastating for parents to watch. Kids lose their hair and pink cheeks, become vulnerable to serious infections and viruses when chemotherapy destroys their immunity, and cry in pain during countless invasive procedures. And it is unbearable to know that 70f these children will still die in their anguished parents' arms, their bodies overcome by a ruthless killer and their eyes full of fear and confusion, not understanding why their loving parents and committed doctors could not make them better.

REALITY

Why is there no effective treatment for advanced Neuroblastoma? The answer is simple and devastating: There is not enough money for research. Yet, consider this: Since the 1950's the rate of kids surviving leukemia shot from 10o 80Similarly, the survival rates for other types of cancers like, Breast Cancer for example, have also improved significantly thanks to extensive research that uncovered innovative and less invasive treatment options. Children diagnosed with cancer are faced with a reprehensible lack of funding from the government—and a shameful lack of interest from the pharmaceutical giants, because orphan diseases like Neuroblastoma promise little or no profit. Unfortunately no profit leaves pharmaceutical companies with little to no incentive to develop treatments. Children diagnosed with Neuroblastoma deserve better odds of survival on par with most other cancers.

Cancer kills more children per year than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, asthma and AIDS combined. But pediatric cancers collectively receive less than 3f the National Cancer Institutes $4.7 billion dollar annual budget. For every dollar spent on a patient with breast cancer, less than 30 cents is spent on a child with cancer. Aren't children our most precious resource? How can you put a price on a child's life?

BOUND BY HOPE

Against this bleak scenario, a group of ordinary parents bound by extraordinary circumstances founded the Band of Parents. Our mission is to raise money to further support and accelerate the research of the talented and dedicated team of doctors and scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), the institution that treats more cases of Neuroblastoma than any other hospital in the world. Our kids' doctors are investigating exciting treatment options that they believe could help save more children with Neuroblastoma.

The institution is working on several pioneering treatments including a humanized version of the 3F8 antibody, used exclusively at MSKCC. The mouse-based 3F8 antibody attaches to Neuroblastoma cells and kills them. The antibody, developed by MSKCC's Dr. Cheung, also trains a child's immune system to attack and kill Neuroblastoma. Since first used in 1987, 3F8 treatment has greatly improved survival without lasting side effects. The mouse-based antibody’s primary drawback is that it can be rejected by the child’s own immune system (HAMA). It is believed a humanized version would alleviate this issue and make it more effective for a greater number of patients. The cost to develop this treatment is estimated to be just $2 – 3 million, a small sum by today’s standards.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Lack of money bars the way, and time is running out for many of these kids. Today hope lies with private institutions, generous donors, and dedicated researchers, who have made it their mission to discover safer, more effective treatments and a cure.

We as the parents of children diagnosed with this relentless cancer are reaching out in hopes that you will help. Won’t you please support the research so urgently needed to give all the kids fighting Neuroblastoma today, and those who will be so unfairly chosen to fight tomorrow, the hope all children deserve?

Isaiah 26:3-4 (New Living Translation)

3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! 4 Trust in the Lordalways, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Our Sweet Brent (at 11)

10/28/1995 - 01/02/07

Brent's Story...

Our son Brent suddenly started to complain with back pain in the fall of 2004. He was playing flag football with the town league and loved to roughhouse with his two younger brothers so the pain was dismissed at first. After having him tested for kidney and bladder infections and finding him clear we finally asked for an MRI of his back. A couple of weeks later (the very day of the MRI) we received a phone call from his doctor saying that a tumor was found in his pelvic area. We were asked how quickly we could get him to St. Jude Children's Hospital - we left IMMEDIATELY. Later that same week we got the diagnosis. It was one that we would NEVER, EVER forget. It was Stage IV Neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system. His chances of survival when diagnosed were 1/4 - 1/3. When he relapsed we were reminded there was NO CURE. There was basically no hope of survival... none outside the HOPE we had in JESUS.

Brent fought long and hard. He was a Christian and LOVED his SAVIOR. He NEVER asked "why" or complained. He took each day as it was - a gift from GOD. Brent went HOME to be with the LORD on January 2, 2007. He was 11 years old. If I've EVER had a "hero" in this world.... it would be him.

Zach, Gabe & Me

Zach - at the age of 11

Gabe at age 7 (He's 8 as of 12/21)

Hubby & Me

Psalm 16:7-9

7I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. 8I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.

Some of My Friends

bandofparents.org - Funding Neuroblastoma Research

FIGHT Neuroblastoma while you SHOP!

This is a cookbook has a recipe of Brent's FAVORITE bread! (Sweet Potato Bread) There's also a picture of him inside with his recipe.

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE CHARITIES, Grab the button for your blog if you'd like!